Dog days

Dog days

Young people in inner-city areas are increasingly using dangerous dogs as 'weapons', as an alternative to carrying knives – but not all dog owners in these troubled areas are irresponsible, by any means, as these canine-loving young gentlemen prove

Wednesday 17 February 2010 07.45 EST
First published on Wednesday 17 February 2010 07.45 EST

Dog pictured: Rottweiler 'The number of people that get dogs specifically to fight is really small. I've met people who do it and I've told them I don't agree with it. But they won't stop. They're ignorant and they're just going to do it'Photograph: Jonangelo Molinari

'My dog just got attacked a couple of days ago by a pit bull, but the owners weren't the hoodie stereotypes. It's happened a few times. There's lots of people who aren't responsible with their dogs'Photograph: Jonangelo Molinari

'There's a lot more young people around with dogs these days. It used to be fashionable about 15 years ago for everyone to have aggressive dogs – now it's coming back. Sometimes it's about safety – that's what people say – but the rest of the time it's just fashion'Photograph: Jonangelo Molinari

Dog pictured: Staffie-pit cross and presa Canario cross-breedWith these younger guys around nowadays it's all about status. They see it as a macho thing – don't mess with me or my dog will take your face off in a second. Dogs aren't violent – people train dogs to be violent'Photograph: Jonangelo Molinari